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at New Zealand, lias again been under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government and that it has been finally decided that the general charges for Lodging Officers and Men, including the maintenance and repair of Barracks, and the construction of such additional Barracks as may be required, shall beborne by the Colonial Government, being in adherence to the decision notified to the Commanding Koyal Engineer by Letter from this Office dated 26th August 1857 ° T V* containing a copy of a Letter from this office to the Colonial Office dated 4th August, 1857. For the I. G F. (Signed) Edward Belfield, A. I. G. F. COPY OF A DESPATCH FROM COL. WYNYARD, C.8., TO GOVERNOR GORE BROWNE, C.B. Auckland, 6th September 1858. Sin,— 15th June, 1858, As in about three weeks hence, on the termination of the present Quarter, the Lodging No. \-x. Money for Officers and Men will fall due and as the Letters I have had the honor to address your Ex»7ih Aug., m."» 8, cellency on this point remain unanswered, while on the other hand, no Funds are provided by the Imperial Parliament for this Service in New Zealand for the year 1858-9; I earnestly entreat I may be speedily favoured with some decision, for unless I am duly enabled to pay the Troops under my Command, and meet the requirements of the Service authorised by Regulation, there will remain, I apprehend no alternative on my part but to draw your Excellency's special attention to the terms clearly and distinctly laid down in the Despatch from the Eight Honorable the Secretary of State, of 12th March last, conveying the final decision of Her Majesty's Government on the subject. I havfe, &c, (Signed) R. IT. Wynyard, Colonel Commanding the Forces in New Zealand. His Excellency the Governor, &c, &c, &c. CorY OF A MEMORANDUM BY MR. STAFFORD. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland Bth September, 1858. Military With reference to the communications, noted in the margin, from the Colonel Commanding the rrr = _ —- Troops in New Zealand, relative to the payment of the Lodging: Money of Officers stationed in the ?7lh Aug., 1838 „. 1 rT . _ „ > a j • i \. J i J-re i • • ■ i. J • • , u nri Tunr Colony, His Excellency s Advisers have had great difficulty in arriving at a decision. JtUil Aug., 1000 * , * , . 1 • P 1 ■!* 1 IP /*! 1 ■ 1 T"» J Sth gent 18»" In previous correspondence on the subject or the contribution to be made trom Colonial .bunds towards the expenses of the Troops in New Zealand, Mr. Labouchere stated that for the future the Colony would be expected to provide for the maintenance and repair of existing Barracks, and the construction of such additional Barracks as might be required. In reply to this demand, His Excellency's Advisers endeavoured to satisfy the Imperial Authorities, that the time had not arrived when it was either just or expedient to enforce such a demand against the Colony. By a Despatch from Lord Stanley, dated the 12th of March last, the Governor was informed that Her Majesty's Imperial Government adhered to the decision of their Predecessors ; and therefore, during the late Session of the General Assembly, two sums were granted for the purposes specified by Mr. Labouchere, viz, the repair of existing Barracks, and the construction of new Buildings. In order to meet this new burthen, it was necessary to raise additional revenue ; and, with this intention, additional Customs Duties were imposed upon articles, previously so heavily taxed, that it is doubtful whether a proportionate additional Revenue will be raised under the new rates. By the communications referred to from the Colonel Commanding the Forces, it would now, however, appear that Lord Stanley intended greatly to increase the demand made by Mr. Labouchere— the Colonel Commanding' stating that no provision having been made by the Imperial Government for pecuniary allowances to Officers and Men in lieu of Barrack accommodation—it is necessary that Funds for these purposes should be found by the' Colony, besides the amount required for the repair and erection of Barracks. His Excellency's Advisers have therefore to adopt the alternative of either authorising upon their own responsibility a large expenditure of public money, without reference to the Legislature, or of permitting all the Troops in New Zealand to be at once removed. They cannot take upon themselves the latter responsibility, and are therefore compelled to undertake to pay, until the next Session of the General Assembly, the demand made by the Colonel Commanding ; if, on reconsideration, the Imperial Authorities shall decide to exact from the Colony this additional charge. Towards covering this expenditure, should it have to be met, it will however be necessary that the sums granted by the Assembly for new buildings be in the meantime withheld ; the sum voted for repairs will therefore be alone available, at present, for Military purposes. It is essential that the Authorities should be made aware how impolitic it would be to enforce this new demand, which is especially onerous, from the circumstance that up to the present time, although Barracks have been provided for the Men, no Quarters have been erected for the Officers ; and they consequently receive an allowance disproportionately large,—from the scarcity and high rent of houses in a now Colony. Tlie Advisers of the Crown in New Zealand are most desirous that, for the future, irritating questions of this nature should not arise between tier Majesty's Imperial and Colonial Governments ; l